The Mind Within the Net: Models of Learning, Thinking and Acting

by Manfred Spitzer

Is your brain like your computer? Well, (hopefully) it doesn't crash as often, and that's just one of many on the long list of differences. But psychiatrist Manfred Spitzer says neuroscientists have much to learn from the alternative computing architectures called neural nets. His book The Mind Within the Net is a look at biological and electronic networks, their similarities, and what each can tell us about the other, with a particular emphasis on his own field. We've known for decades how individual neurons work. It's taken recent advances in neural computing to help us learn how brain systems might take advantage of their unique dynamics to help us see, walk, and keep the trains running on time. Covering the basics of both neuroscience and neural computing with a user-friendly, but not oversimplified, prose style, Spitzer then moves on to the often striking similarities in function between simple electronic networks and mechanisms within the brain. Keeping in mind the importance of recognizing models as such, he takes pains to point out that there are some aspects of computing for which there is little comparison to biological systems. However, the similarities between different network degradations and such diverse problems as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and depression are compelling and potentially important. It's not often that we get a new batch of metaphors to help us understand ourselves; this may be the paradigm shift we've been waiting for. --Rob Lightner

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Neuroscience, Science, German Literature

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Manfred Spitzer (* 27. Mai 1958 in Lengfeld in der Nähe von Darmstadt) ist ein deutscher Psychiater, Psychologe und Hochschullehrer.

Seit 1998 ist er ärztlicher Direktor der Psychiatrischen Universitätsklinik in Ulm, als der er auch die Gesamtleitung des 2004 dort eröffneten Transferzentrums für Neurowissenschaften und Lernen (ZNL) innehat, das sich vor allem mit Neurodidaktik beschäftigt.

Reviews

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm extraordinarily happy with this book. I was looking for an introduction to neural networks with a specific angle on the human brain, after having read Jerome Feldman's Neural Theory of Language. I found Feldman's book lacking in (physiological) detail, and wanted a much deeper understanding of the neurons that are, at bottom, responsible for everything we experience as humans.

"The Mind Within the Net" absolutely satisfied that desire. It went far beyond my expectation and delivered the most compelling and cogent explanation of the human mind I've ever encountered. I feel like I have not only a strong grasp on neural nets but how the human brain actually works. It's fed my hunger for knowledge so well that I'm now hunting for much more technical textbooks on neural nets so that I can implement them myself.

The only caveat I found with this book are the typos--there were far more than I would expect or approve of from MIT Press! Some of them are just downright unacceptable (like a "2" instead of "-2" in a diagram which was really confusing until I concluded it was a typo.

Testament to the quality of the content that these typos didn't ruin it for me. I excitedly recommend this book to anyone interested in neural nets, or more broadly, anyone seriously interested in how the human brain actually produces experience.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

aus Seite 210:

Man hatte Gedanken auf der einen Seite und Gehirnstrukturen auf der anderen, aber man hatte nicht die leiseste Ahnung wie beides zusammenzubringen sei..

All die ist heute anders.. psychologische Sachverhalte - bis hin zu rein subjektiven Gedanken, Gefühlen und Empfindungen [können wir:] am Computer .. simulieren...

Psychologische Theorien der Vergangenheit zeichnete sich sehr oft durch eine große Vagheit aus, so daß man sie mit nahezu allen Beobachtungen in Einklang bringen konnte. Damit waren die Theorien einerseits gegen ihre Widerlegungn immun, anderseits jedoch praktisch nutzlos..

Die Kritik des unmittelbar bevorstehenden Absatzes gilt ebensogut auf anderen Bereichen; man denkt nur an Epistomotologie oder pedagoische Theorien. Nun erhebt die in diesem Buch vorgetragenen Ideen die Psychologie aus seiner willkürlich ausgeprägten Zustand in die Reihe der objektiv meßbaren Wissenschaften. Dies erfolgt nach dem Schema der Physik, wobei weitgefächerte makroskopische Merkmale auf der Basis von einer kleinen Zahl mikroskopischen Eigenschaften erklärt werden.

[Dirk Broenink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book managed to blow my mind every few pages or so, which is impressive.

Spitzer manages to explain the concept of neural networks in such a way that the reader will understand them very well. He then relates them to our brain and explains certain typical human occurrences this way. He shows us why and how neural networks can be used to explain human behavior, and at the same time manages to offer new perspectives as well.

The content of this book is interesting and relevant to programmers, neuroscientists, linguists, therapists, psychologists and anyone who is curious.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

how brains work. or pretty close.

[Rebecca Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting stuff. Wouldn't have read it if it wasn't assigned but I'm glad I did. Makes me want to learn more about how language mechanisms work in our brains.

[Andy Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

:d

Readed on the beach in Italy.
Verry nice.